Amazon has introduced Vulcan, a new robotic system designed to enhance warehouse operations by integrating tactile sensing into item handling tasks. Presented at the company’s “Delivering the Future” event in Dortmund, Germany, Vulcan is described as the first robot in Amazon’s network with a sense of touch, intended to support employees by automating physically demanding aspects of the fulfillment process.
According to Amazon, Vulcan uses sensors and feedback mechanisms to detect contact with items and measure applied force. This functionality allows the robot to perform tasks that require dexterity, such as picking and stowing items in compact storage pods that hold multiple products. Unlike previous robotic systems, which primarily relied on computer vision and suction technology, Vulcan incorporates force feedback and custom end-effectors to manipulate items more precisely.
Vulcan’s development focused on addressing inefficiencies and ergonomic challenges in warehouse operations, particularly tasks involving inventory stored in high or low positions. Traditionally, employees have used step ladders to access upper rows of inventory pods, a practice Amazon says the robot will help reduce. The system is currently operating in fulfillment centers in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany.
The company reports that Vulcan is capable of handling approximately 75% of the item types found in its warehouses and can perform at speeds comparable to human workers. When Vulcan is unable to complete a task, it can defer to a human operator. This collaborative approach is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to combine automation with human labor to improve efficiency and safety.
Development of Vulcan involved advances in robotics and what Amazon refers to as “physical AI,” which includes algorithms trained on real-world data incorporating touch and force. The system was trained on thousands of physical interactions to understand how different materials and object shapes respond to handling. Amazon states that more than 750,000 robots are currently deployed across its global network and contribute to 75% of customer order completions. The company plans to scale the Vulcan system across fulfillment centers in the United States and Europe in the coming years.
